Sunday, May 04, 2008

Post Derby Bits and Pieces

By: Frank Carpano

Final thoughts from the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby:

· Seersucker suits were the uniform for the day for many of the men who attended the derby. And, in many different colors. Light blue was the most popular, but I also spotted some pink ones. And there was one light green seersucker jumpsuit!

· In order to watch the race from start to finish at Churchill Downs, you need to have a perch on Millionaire’s Row. Otherwise it’s a little like a golf tournament, you can only see parts of it live.

· People watching is the biggest sport of derby weekend. And there is no shortage of unique individuals.

· I bet you didn’t know that you can walk up to the ticket window on Derby day and purchase a ticket.
General admission is $40 and gets you onto the track grounds. However, you will not see the races. Most of the general admission people end up at the infield. A Woodstock like celebration. There you will not see many people dressed up and wearing fancy hats. What you will see is a scene reminiscent of Spring Break. There were thousand of college age and 20 somethings who spent the afternoon partying, most oblivious to the horse racing around them.

· We went to 3 different nice restaurants during our stay in the Louisville area. 2 of the 3 created limited menus for Derby weekend. And at least 2 of the 3 jacked up their prices for the tourists.

· Until I saw them perform in person, I never had a true appreciation for the beauty, power and grace of these animals.

· The best part for me was experiencing the traditions of the Derby. From dressing up to the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home”.

· Parking around Churchill Downs started at $5 and topped out at $20.  Good luck finding that at Gillette Stadium

· Without question the worst part of the weekend was what happened to Eight Belles.We didn’t find out until about 15 minutes after the race what had happened to her. The first sign there was trouble was when we saw the horse ambulance go racing by on the track. The speed it was traveling suggested it was headed to something serious. While none of our small wagers paid off, we all marveled at what a good race the Philly ran. A few minutes later we heard that she broke 2 ankles and had to be putdown on the track. Our mood quickly changed. Derby veterans couldn’t remember a more tragic moment at this event.